Automobile or bicycle wheel.



Eatented April. 4,

,il u l W ,mugrr, n filial l i,

nui-omc :eine on ElCYiCLi WHEEM SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 'Ia-O. 786,612, dated. April i995:

Application filed October 24, i904.. Serial No. 229,702.

To olii whom t 'lita/y concern.-

Be it known that I, OGD'EN it. VAN Doesn,

acitizen ot' the United States, residing at Newark, in the county ot' Essex and State oi' New Jersey, have invented certain new and usetul improvements in Automobile or Bicycle llf'heels; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description oi the invention, such as will enable others` skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part ot' this speciiication.

The objects ot' this invention are to avoid the inconvenience and loss incident to the puncturing ot' tires; to provide a simple, du-

rable, and comfortable wheel, and to obtainA other advantages and results, some of which may be hereinafter reierred to in connection with the description of the working parts.

rlhe invention consists in the improved w heel for automobiles, bicycles, and other vehicles and in the arrangements and combinations of parts oi' the same, all substantially as will be hereinafter set t'orth, and iinally embraced in f the clauses of the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1n which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the several figures,

Figure l is a side elevation oi' a portion oi' a wheel of my improved construction, the spokes and hub being omitted and the outer cover or jacket being broken away. Fig. 2 is a view of a portion of the wheel on an enlarged scale,

a part being in section taken at vthe center plane parallel with the opposite sides 'of the wheel. Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken through the rim cushion and tire, and Fig. 4 is a section taken through line fr; oi' Fig. 2.

ln said drawings, 5 indicates a metal rim, which is outwardly curved at its opposite edges to form an annular groove on its periphery. Vithin this groove is an annular cushion 6, ot' rubber, and outside oi" said rubber cushion is arranged a tire 7, Which is preterably in sections and held in said groove by turnbuckles 9. Outside of and around said rim and tire is an elastic cover or jacket 8,

vhich is removably held in place by the lac ng-cords i0. The tire-sections are oil: solid wood and are reduced at their ends to enter curved tubular sleeves il, the pcripheries oi3 the sleeves lying flush with the surfaces oi" the large par s of the said sections. oi said sections are preferably slotted transversely, and in the slots are pivotally arranged the heads 120i the opposite turninickle-screws i3, the said heads being` arranged on the transverse pivots 14, which may be screws or otherwise. rlhe center bolt l5 of the turn buoi-:le is provided with holes or other means lo', whereby it may be turned by a wrench or key1 and nearsaid holes the rim, cushion, and sleeve are slotted or perforated to enable said wrench or key to gain access to the said bolt'lrom the outside. T he wooden tire-sections are pret'- i erably ot' hickory-wood and are preferably l approximate semicirclcs.

i I, ,i i i i Said tire-sections are prevented from moving laterally inde-- pendent of the rim by engagement with the up wardly-extending sides of the said rim; but the load carried by the wheels is cushioned in its progress, iii-st by the elastic packet or cover 8 and also by the cushion 6 at the bottom 0i' 'the rim-groove. Thus smoothness of movementis obtained; but all danger oii puncturing is avoided. and hub (not shown) l construction.

ln assembling' the parts constructed as described the cushion, which is preferably a continuous piece oi' rubber, is sprung into the groove of the rim, the tire-sections are coupled together and by means of the tnrnbuekle-s drawn into the sleeves, and the jacket is linally laced over the outside of said tire i and rim, when the wheel is ready for service i as usuai. v i Having thus described theinvcntion, what l claim as new is l. rihe combination with'thc rim grooi'ed at its outer periphery, of an elastic cushion lying at the bott-cm ol the groove, and a wooden tire arranged in said groove on said cushion, said wooden tire being' in seniicircui lar sections coupled together at their ends.

The spokes 16, Fig' may be oi any ordinary opposing ends ot said sections being held connecting-sleeves, the opposite sides of said tire-sections and sleeves engaging the side walls of the groove of said rim, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination With the rim grooved at its outer periphery, of an elastic cushion lying at the bottom of the groove, a Wooden tire arranged in said groove on said cushion, the ends of said tire being drawn down into said groove against said cushion by a turnbuckle, the latter being connected to the said ends and a sleeve vcontaining the ends of the tire and said turnbuckle, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with the metallic rim grooved at the outer periphery, of an elastic cushion arranged at the bottom of the groove, and a tire in approximately semicircular sections `joined together by turnbuckles, said semicircular sections at their ends being insei-ted in sleeves interposed between the said tire bearing upon said elastic cushion and held from lateral movement by the sides of the metallic rim and a jacket or covering inclosing said rim and tire, substantially as set 25 forth.

4. The combination with the metallic rim grooved at its outer periphery, of an elastic cushion arranged at the bottom of the groove, and a ltire in approximately semicircular sections joined together by turnbuckles, said semicircular sections being reduced at their ends and inserted in curved tubular sleeves interposed between said sections and being slotted to receive the opposite heads of the turnbuckles, the said tire bearing upon said elastic cushion and held from lateral movement by the sides of the metallic rim and a jacket or covering inclosing said rim and tire, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 22d day of October, 1904.

OGDEN R. VAN DOREN.

Witnesses:

CHARLES H. PELL, RUSSELL M. EVERETT. 

